Washington, March 19 – US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday agreed to a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, pausing attacks on energy and infrastructure while beginning negotiations for a full ceasefire and permanent peace. The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and the situation in West Asia during a lengthy phone call that lasted nearly two hours. The plan will require affirmation by Ukraine.
“The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire, and permanent peace,” said the White House in a readout of the call. “These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East (West Asia).” The statement also noted that both leaders agreed the conflict “needs to end with a lasting peace.”
The readout further stated that Trump and Putin “stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the US and Russia,” adding that such a future could lead to “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.” They also discussed West Asia as “a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts,” including the situation with Iran. “The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.”
An hour into the phone call, Dan Scavino, the Deputy Chief of Staff to President Trump, posted on X: “Happening Now — President Trump is currently in the Oval Office speaking with President Vladimir Putin of Russia since 10 a.m. EDT. The call is going well and still in progress.” He posted an update 40 minutes later: “Update: Call still in progress…”
Trump first announced his plans for the call late Sunday while returning to Washington D.C. from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The call follows talks between Steve Witkoff, Trump’s West Asia envoy, and President Putin in Moscow last week, a meeting that reportedly lasted three to four hours. This meeting was preceded by discussions between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor (NSA) Mike Waltz with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the Tuesday call, H.R. McMaster, former NSA to Trump during his first term, told Fox News that Putin’s strategy is “to get Trump and the US to accept a deal that is unacceptable to the Ukrainians and then try to turn the US not only against Ukraine but against Europe.”
The call marks a significant step in President Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a conflict he has repeatedly claimed would never have happened if he had been in office at the time.
